Key points
- Melbourne Symphony Orchestra inks historic agreement with London counterpart.
- Partnership includes reciprocal touring in Australia, UK and artists exchanges.
- Orchestras will collaborate on new digital innovations to reach wider audience.
London: The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has struck a ground-breaking new partnership with its famous London counterpart, enabling further cross-cultural collaboration between the two renowned institutions.
The agreement will include reciprocal touring in Australia and the UK, emerging artist exchanges and co-commissioning performances and activities, including digital innovations, such as LSO Live and MSO Live.
Conductor Jaime Martin leads the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in their 2022 season finale gala, Bolero!Credit:Laura Manariti
Founded in 1904, the London Symphony Orchestra is regarded among the top five orchestras in the world, performing more than 120 concerts a year with leading international artists. It is the world’s most recorded orchestra, having made recordings since 1912 and played on more than 200 soundtrack recordings.
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, which played The Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2014, is Australia’s oldest, formed just two years after its British cousin in 1906.
MSO managing director Sophie Galaise said the organisation was proud of its long-standing reputation as a leading cultural ambassador for Australia, and was “delighted” to unite the two orchestras as “kindred spirits”.
Sir Simon Rattle conducts the London Symphony Orchestra at London’s Barbican Centre in June 2022.Credit:Mark Allan
“This partnership enables us to build on our shared histories to create a dynamic new place in the world for orchestral music, ensuring access for all to the joy of music-making, whether it is in the digital universe or in the up-close opportunities for emerging young artists in both our countries,” she said.
The “Live” concept has given the London symphony its own record label and uses the latest technology to capture the orchestra’s most exciting performances. It was the first of the new breed of artist-owned labels which have helped revitalise the market for classical music.
The recordings are owned by the orchestra itself, with the players, conductors and soloists as stakeholders in the recordings on which they appear. LSO Live works with some of the world’s leading producers and sound engineers.
In the early stages of the pandemic, the MSO launched a membership-based video-on-demand service, delivering virtual concerts, special events and musical experiences from the MSO and other Australian arts companies.
Announcing the partnership in London on Tuesday, Australia’s Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Lynette Wood said it was a proud moment in the country’s deep relationship with Britain. She said the collaboration was a “clear manifestation” of the values of both countries as cultural powerhouses, partners, and friends.
“I am delighted that these two world-class orchestras will forge ahead in this exciting partnership for the benefit of people all over Australia and the UK,” she said.
The partnership will be launched with a series of concerts by the London Symphony Orchestra taking place across Australia next year, with Sir Simon Rattle – the LSO’s music director – conducting. Starting on April 28 and going through to May 6, the tour will span Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
“This is a chance for musicians from both countries to deepen their understanding of each other, united through their passion for music-making at the highest level,” said Rattle.
“Sharing our musical culture, we hope to make a lasting impact here and in Australia.”
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